The Bible really isn't that difficult to understand. No portion of the scriptures in the Holy Bible is to be comprehended intellectually apart from some conception of its place in the whole. Each book, chapter, verse, and every word forms an interconnected part of the whole; each has its own appointed place.
The Bible is One Book: It is not a series of disconnected stories or thoughts. There are 7 great marks that attest to the unity of the Bible.
From Moses to John, there were approximately 44 writers across approximately 20 centuries. Together, they produced perfect harmony in the progressive unfolding of Holy Scripture.
The Bible is the Book of Books
The Bible is composed of 66 books. Each book of the bible is complete in itself. There are 5 great divisions into which the Bible is separated:
The 39 Books of the Old Testament is grouped into 4 major categories:
Law History Poetry Prophecy
Genesis Joshua Job Isaiah
Exodus Judges Psalms Jeremiah
Leviticus Ruth Proverbs Daniel
Numbers I Samuel Ecclesiastes Ezekiel
Deuteronomy II Samuel Song of Solomon Hosea
I Kings Lamentations Joel
II Kings Amos
I Chronicles Obadiah
II Chronicles Jonah
Ezra Micah
Nehemiah Naham
Esther Habbakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zehariah
Malichi
The Bible tells the human story.
The creation of the Earth and Man – Adam to Abraham (Israel) in Genesis 11 to Acts 2.
The Church – Acts 2 to Revelation 4
Israel – Chosen for a great world-wide purpose as described in Deuteronomy 7: 6-7
The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ – God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). Jesus’ sacrificial death and bodily resurrection constitute the Books of the Gospel. To this fact, all preceding scripture leads and from this all following scripture proceeds.
Christ, the Son of God, Son of Man binds all Books into one Book – The Bible
Christ is the ultimate destroyer of Satan in Revelation
As seed of Abraham – Christ is the benefactor of the world through the seed of David (Israel’s King) and will one day sit on the throne.
Now exalted on the right hand of God in Heaven. The Church is Christ’s body on Earth.
To Israel and nations, the promise of Christ’s return is the one and only rational expectation that humanity will ever fulfill itself and Israel will achieve its destiny in the world.
To believers – John 14:3 – Christ says, “I will come again.”
Inspiration
A Biblical Doctrine: 3 Truths of Inspiration
The meaning of inspiration – “God breathed”
The extent of inspiration – every word in the original “Plenary Inspiration”
The evidence of inspiration – Testimony of Jesus and testimony of the writers
The Bible is “Inspired” (II Timothy 3:16); means “God breathed).
Emphasis is on the EXTENT rather than the METHOD of the inspiration (See II Timothy 3:16 – II Peter 1:20-21; I Thessalonians 2:13 – I Chronicles 2:13).
Jesus said, “The scriptures cannot be broken” – John 10:35 - and shall be fulfilled to the smallest degree (Matthew 5:18).
Jesus Christ was God: Hebrews 1:3 – Colossians 2:9
Jesus knew the Holy Scriptures were true, inspired, and authoritative (Matthew 5:18 – John 10:35).
Jesus spoke with authority (Matthew 7:28-29).
Jesus’ words are true and final to every believer (Colossians 2:3).
The Testimony of the Writers Who Believed
Moses – Exodus 4:10-12; Exodus 34:27
David – II Samuel 23:2
Solomon – Proverbs 30: 6
Isaiah – Isaiah 6:5-8
Jeremiah – Jeremiah 1:7; Jeremiah 36: 1-2
Zechariah – Zechariah 7:7
Balaam – Numbers 22:38; Numbers 23:12-16
Paul – I Corinthians 2:13
Christ – John 14:10; John 8:40; John 17:8; John 6:63
Jude – Jude 3-17
The Bible is One Book: It is not a series of disconnected stories or thoughts. There are 7 great marks that attest to the unity of the Bible.
- One God
- One continuous story – the story of humanity in relation to God
- Predictions concerning the future (prophesy)
- One redemption – through the blood of Christ
- One great theme – Christ
- Perfect harmony of doctrine
From Moses to John, there were approximately 44 writers across approximately 20 centuries. Together, they produced perfect harmony in the progressive unfolding of Holy Scripture.
The Bible is the Book of Books
The Bible is composed of 66 books. Each book of the bible is complete in itself. There are 5 great divisions into which the Bible is separated:
- Preparation – Old Testament
- Manifestation – The Gospels
- Propagation – The Acts
- Explanation – The Epistles
- Consummation – The Revelation
The 39 Books of the Old Testament is grouped into 4 major categories:
Law History Poetry Prophecy
Genesis Joshua Job Isaiah
Exodus Judges Psalms Jeremiah
Leviticus Ruth Proverbs Daniel
Numbers I Samuel Ecclesiastes Ezekiel
Deuteronomy II Samuel Song of Solomon Hosea
I Kings Lamentations Joel
II Kings Amos
I Chronicles Obadiah
II Chronicles Jonah
Ezra Micah
Nehemiah Naham
Esther Habbakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zehariah
Malichi
The Bible tells the human story.
The creation of the Earth and Man – Adam to Abraham (Israel) in Genesis 11 to Acts 2.
The Church – Acts 2 to Revelation 4
Israel – Chosen for a great world-wide purpose as described in Deuteronomy 7: 6-7
- Witness to the Unity of God (Deut. 6:4 and Isaiah 43:10)
- Blessedness of Serving the True God (Deut. 33: 26-29; I Chronicles 17: 20-21; Psalm 102:15)
- Receive and Preserve the Divine Revelation (Romans 3: 1-2)
- Produce the Messiah – Earth’s Savior and Lord (Romans 9:4-5)
The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ – God manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). Jesus’ sacrificial death and bodily resurrection constitute the Books of the Gospel. To this fact, all preceding scripture leads and from this all following scripture proceeds.
Christ, the Son of God, Son of Man binds all Books into one Book – The Bible
Christ is the ultimate destroyer of Satan in Revelation
As seed of Abraham – Christ is the benefactor of the world through the seed of David (Israel’s King) and will one day sit on the throne.
Now exalted on the right hand of God in Heaven. The Church is Christ’s body on Earth.
To Israel and nations, the promise of Christ’s return is the one and only rational expectation that humanity will ever fulfill itself and Israel will achieve its destiny in the world.
To believers – John 14:3 – Christ says, “I will come again.”
Inspiration
A Biblical Doctrine: 3 Truths of Inspiration
The meaning of inspiration – “God breathed”
The extent of inspiration – every word in the original “Plenary Inspiration”
The evidence of inspiration – Testimony of Jesus and testimony of the writers
The Bible is “Inspired” (II Timothy 3:16); means “God breathed).
Emphasis is on the EXTENT rather than the METHOD of the inspiration (See II Timothy 3:16 – II Peter 1:20-21; I Thessalonians 2:13 – I Chronicles 2:13).
Jesus said, “The scriptures cannot be broken” – John 10:35 - and shall be fulfilled to the smallest degree (Matthew 5:18).
Jesus Christ was God: Hebrews 1:3 – Colossians 2:9
Jesus knew the Holy Scriptures were true, inspired, and authoritative (Matthew 5:18 – John 10:35).
Jesus spoke with authority (Matthew 7:28-29).
Jesus’ words are true and final to every believer (Colossians 2:3).
The Testimony of the Writers Who Believed
Moses – Exodus 4:10-12; Exodus 34:27
David – II Samuel 23:2
Solomon – Proverbs 30: 6
Isaiah – Isaiah 6:5-8
Jeremiah – Jeremiah 1:7; Jeremiah 36: 1-2
Zechariah – Zechariah 7:7
Balaam – Numbers 22:38; Numbers 23:12-16
Paul – I Corinthians 2:13
Christ – John 14:10; John 8:40; John 17:8; John 6:63
Jude – Jude 3-17
Biblical Timeline of History and Prophecy
The Bible is divided into 7 Ages, often referred to as the 7 Dispensations (Ephesians 2:7, Ephesians 3:2) from the creation of Adam to the final "new heaven and new earth". Biblical scholars believe Dispensations 1-5 have occurred; we are living in Dispensation 6. With Dispensation 6 in progress we conclude that the 7th Dispensation is yet to come.
1. Innocence. Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:16-2:1; Genesis 3-6; Genesis 3:22-24. The Age of Innocence ended in expulsion.
2. Conscience (Moral Responsibility). Genesis 3:7-22; Genesis 6:5; Genesis 7:11. The Age of Conscience ends in flood.
3. Human Government. Genesis 9:1-2; Genesis 11:1-4, Genesis 11:5-8. The Age of Human Government ends in the confusion of tongues (multiple languages).
4. Promise. Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 28:12-13; Genesis 13:14-17; Exodus 1:13-14. The Age of Promise ends in Egyptian Bondage.
5. Law. Exodus 19:1-8; Romans 10:5; Romans 3:19-20; II Kings 17:1-18; II Kings 25:1-11; Acts 2:22-23; Acts 7:51-52. The Age of Law ends with Christ's crucifixion on the cross. This is especially important because the Law of the Old Testament pertaining to salvation/purification from sin and blood sacrifice ends. Christ's shed blood on the cross pays it forward for those who believe in him.
6. Grace. (Age of Grace is evidenced by growth of the Church and manifestations of the Holy Spirit). John 6:29; John 6:47; John 5:24; John 10:27-28; Ephesians 2:8-9. The end of the Age of Grace will be marked by the Rapture of believers in Christ.
7. Kingdom. 1,000 year reign of Christ - Acts 15:14-17; Isaiah 2:1-4; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:1-6; Isaiah 11. The Age of Kingdom will end in Eternity.
1. Innocence. Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:16-2:1; Genesis 3-6; Genesis 3:22-24. The Age of Innocence ended in expulsion.
2. Conscience (Moral Responsibility). Genesis 3:7-22; Genesis 6:5; Genesis 7:11. The Age of Conscience ends in flood.
3. Human Government. Genesis 9:1-2; Genesis 11:1-4, Genesis 11:5-8. The Age of Human Government ends in the confusion of tongues (multiple languages).
4. Promise. Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 28:12-13; Genesis 13:14-17; Exodus 1:13-14. The Age of Promise ends in Egyptian Bondage.
5. Law. Exodus 19:1-8; Romans 10:5; Romans 3:19-20; II Kings 17:1-18; II Kings 25:1-11; Acts 2:22-23; Acts 7:51-52. The Age of Law ends with Christ's crucifixion on the cross. This is especially important because the Law of the Old Testament pertaining to salvation/purification from sin and blood sacrifice ends. Christ's shed blood on the cross pays it forward for those who believe in him.
6. Grace. (Age of Grace is evidenced by growth of the Church and manifestations of the Holy Spirit). John 6:29; John 6:47; John 5:24; John 10:27-28; Ephesians 2:8-9. The end of the Age of Grace will be marked by the Rapture of believers in Christ.
7. Kingdom. 1,000 year reign of Christ - Acts 15:14-17; Isaiah 2:1-4; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:1-6; Isaiah 11. The Age of Kingdom will end in Eternity.